Aerial delivery containers



Dec. 27, 1955 2,728,581 AERIAL DELIVERY coNTAIiiERs Original Filed Aug. 7, 1945 E. C. GOEBERT ETAL s Sheets-Sheet 1 Elmer E. Bneberr Embed J..Lennun Dec. 27, 1955 E. c. GOEBERT ET AL AERIAL DELIVERY CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 7, 1945 ll ll HI I III II! me [1 Enabler]; Ember i; J. Lennon Dec. 27, 1955 5 GOEBERT ET AL 2,728,581

AERIAL DELIVERY CONTAINERS Original Filed Aug. 7, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 27, 1955 c, GQEBERT ET AL 2,728,581

AERIAL DELIVERY CONTAINERS Original Filed Aug. 7, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Elmer II- EEIEbEP Ruher'i: J. Lennun W gL Mk4 wa Dec. 27, 1955 E. c. GOEBERT ET AL 2,728,581

AERIAL DELIVERY CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 7, 1945 Elmer" lllfineherl Ember J Lem-1cm Dec 27 19's c. GOEBERT ET AL 2,728,581

AERIAL DELIVERY CONTAINERS Original Filed Aug. 7, 1945 6 Sh t as s-Sheet 6 United States Patent M AERIAL DELIVERY CONTAINERS Ehner C. Goebert, Bradenton, Fla, and Robert J. Lennon, Rock Island, Ill.

Continuation of application Serial No. 599,470, August 7, 1945. This application April 27, 1951, Serial No. 223,426

9 Claims. (Cl. 280-41) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This application is a continuation of our application No. 609,470 filed August 7, 1945, now abandoned.

The invention relates to aerial delivery containers and, more specifically, to containers for use in dropping materiel or supplies from airplanes to ground troops, the delivery being preferably parachute-controlled.

Aerial delivery containers have been known for some time but in the main they have been quite inflexible and of permanently connected parts and they have normally been adapted to carry only one particular type of load. Also, containers of this type heretofore known have usually been considered to be expended after one drop.

It is an object of our invention to provide containers of the type described which are adaptable to carry a great variety of diilerently shaped and differently sized loads.

Another object of our invention is to furnish aerial delivery containers which are capable of resisting deformation due to sudden and forcible impacts, to an extent such that they are capable of being used two or more times.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such containers which are capable of being shipped in knockeddown condition and readily assembled prior to loading and delivery.

Another purpose of our invention is to provide construction adapting such containers to be readily transformed into wheeled vehicles or trailers for transporting the delivered and other materiel on the ground.

In general in its preferred form our invention comprises a generally cylindrical container which is dividable along its length into two substantially equal parts or components and which has its side wall section formed from corrugated material. Transoms are provided within the container for adapting it to various loads and the two components are held together about the load by suitable strips provided with quickly releasable fasteners for rapid disassembly. vision is made for the carrying of wheels within the container for application to the outside thereof to render the container mobile after it has landed.

In order that a clear and concise explanation of preferred forms of our invention may be made, we have accompanied this specification with drawings which form apart hereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an aerial delivery container prepared in accordance with our invention, the same being of the mobile type and being shown as'mounted on its wheels, one of which is partially broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 with the container closed and fastened, the adjacent Wheel assembly being omitted and certain parts being broken away in order to more clearly reveal the construction;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the assembly of In certain forms of our invention, pro- 2,728,581 Patented Dec. 27, 1955 Fig. 2, certain parts being broken away for the purpose of revealing construction and the means for fastening the container closed being omitted;

Fig. 4 is atop plan view of the axle bracket and axle assembly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the axle assembly employed in the construction of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view, mainly in longitudinal section, of that portion of the tongue in Fig. 1 which comprises the coupling therein;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a container embodying our invention in which alternative types of axle, tongue, and end construction are employed, said container being shown mounted on its wheels;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 9 with the wheels removed and the axles disposed in inactive or delivery position;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a container such as we propose in which the axle construction is shown as very slightly modified from that of Figs. 9 and 10 and in which an alternative type of end construction is illustrated;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the assembly of Fig. 11, certain parts being broken away to clearly reveal the construction;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the assembly of Figs. 11 and 12, the container proper being shown in a generally horizontal position, rather than in a generally vertical position as in Fig. 11, and certain parts being broken away to reveal internal construction;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary end elevation of the assembly of Figs. 11, 12 and 13 and illustrates details of the tongue construction;

Fig. :15 is a fragmentary outer side elevation of an axle and axle bracket of the type employed in the assembly of Figs. 11-13; and

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a transom which is adapted for use in our containers with certain types of loads.

Referring now to the drawings :in greater detail and especiallyto Figs. 1 to 8, we have employed the reference character 41 'to designate, generally, the upper half or component of the dividable container, adapted to cooperate with a lower component 4210 provide a complete closure for a load such, for example, as ammunition, a plurality .of tubular cases of which have been indicated in place in the container by dotted lines at 43. Each component comprises first, a sheet of corrugated material 44 formed into an arc of substantially to provide the longitudinal wall section of the component, and second, a pair of end walls 45 having inner members 46 and outer members 47, said members 46 and 47 being preferably united by spot welds. Respective inner and outer flanges 48 and 49 are provided, on the arcuate shaped edges of the said inner and outer end members 46 and 47, and the end portions of the corrugated wall sections are received between the flanges 48 and 49, the latter being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the depth of the corrugations. Bolts '50 are provided for attaching the outer crests of the corrugations of the wall sections to the outer flange 49 in tangential relation therewith, and bolts 51 are provided for attaching the inner crests or troughs .of :the corrugated sections to the inner flange 48, see Fig. 3. It will then be observed that the flanges are radially spaced :1 distance equal to the limiting-dimension measured .alonga radius of the wall between inner and outer crests of the corrugations, that is, the :radial distance between two arcs, one tangent to .the outer crests .and another tangent to the inner crests. :By this arrangement the flanges 4'8 and 49 are rigidly braced against one another and are positively secured in said latter ends.

their initial radially spaced relationship. Thus, if a container lands with considerable force after being dropped from an airplane, and alights on or adjacent one of the edges of one of its ends, the outer flange 49 will be held against being bent inwardly to a substantial extent and the arcuate edge of outer member 47 of end 45 will be held against being bent inwardly appreciably toward the arcuate edge of the inner member 46 of said end.

In order to aiford completely closed ends, splicing ,members or flange elements 52 are provided for closing or spanning any gaps which might exist between the abut- -ting edges of the ends 45 of the components (Fig. 1);

these splicing elements also serve to positively lock the two components against appreciable relative movement in the plane of their interface, being permanently attached between the inner and outer members 46 and 47 of the ends 45 of the lower component 42 and projecting upwardly from said ends along the lines on which said ends adjoin the ends of the top component, into spaces 53 between the inner and outer members of ends 45 of the top component along the complementary lines of Flanges 54 and 55 are provided on on the ends of splicers 52 and the projecting portions of said flanges are adapted to be received between the adjacent portions of spaced apart flanges 48 and 49 of the ends of the top component (Fig. 1). In the particular assembly illustrated we have shown the space, such as the space 53, provided between the inner and outer members of the ends 45 as being the result of the outer end members 47 being provided with sections 56 which have been pressed or molded inwardly (Figs. 1 and 3).

Transoms or partitions 57, having weight-reducing cutouts 570, are provided in both the top and bottom components for locating and bracing the load within the container and are preferably provided with both outer peripheral flanges 58 for abutment with and fastening to the respective corrguated wall sections 44, and inner flanges 59 for either directly or indirectly supporting the load (Fig. 16). Strips of felt 60 are preferably provided -on several of the load-supporting flanges 59 for cushioning purposes.

Bolts 61 extending through openings 62 in the flange 58 of the transom and through registering openings in the corrugated wall sections serve to secure the transoms rigidly in place. Numerous rows of openings are provided in order that the transoms 57 may be variously located as indicated by the particular load to be contained, and the contours of the load-adjacent edges of the respective transoms (that edge on each of which the flange 59 occurs) are varied in accordance with load requirements. Although the flange 58 is in the main regularly curved in contour, the ends thereof are preferably provided with one corrugation each, as at 64, said corrugations being substantially similar in shape and dimension as those of the corrugated wall sections. By this expedient, as shown in Figs. 3 and 16, the parts are so arranged that the corrugations 64 in the ends of transoms 57 are lodged in the concave sides of crests of the corrugated wall structure and it is possible to draw the longitudinal edges of the corrugated wall structure about the corrugations 64 to provide a neat and tight junction of the longitudinal edges of the upper and lower components. As shown in Fig. 3, the longitudinal edges of the lower component occur along substantially the mean lines of troughs of the corrugated wall section, whereas the longitudinal edges of the top component occur along lines substantially midway between troughs and crests of its corrugated wall section. Thus an appreciable overlap of the top component is provided. The said longitudinal edges of the corrugated wall sections are preferably respectively rolled about reenforcing wires or rods 65, and cutouts 66 (Fig. 3)

In addition to the ammunition cases 43, the container also carries wheel assemblies 67 as it is transported on the aircraft and as it is dropped therefrom. The compartment which receives said wheel assemblies is defined by a bulkhead 68 and the adjacent end 45 of the container. When the container has landed and has been opened, the wheel assemblies 67 may be removed therefrom and mounted upon the outside of the container by means of an axle 69, which is mounted in brackets 70 which form a part of the permanent exterior of this container. As is best seen in Figs. 4 to 6, each bracket 70 comprises a plurality of spaced apart depending fingers 71, each of which includes an arcuate recess which together form arcs of a common cylinder about the axis of the axle 69. The two brackets '70 are mounted upon a plate 72 which fits about the bottom portion of the container through a substantial arc and which is provided with a plurality of corrugations 73 meshed with corrugations in the container. Bolts 74 secure the plate 72 in position on the container and a transversely extending rib 75 is provided on the under side of said plate for the purpose of reinforcing it.

The axle 69 is best seen in Fig. 7 and comprises, in its preferred form a pair of elongated members 76 attached at their inner ends by a hinge 77. Each of said axle members 76 is provided with a section '78 having flats 79 and 80 disposed on diametrically opposite sides thereof. Adjacent the section 78 is an integral circular shoulder 81, on the opposite side of which is mounted an elongated lug 82 upon which a keeper element 83, bifurcated at 84, is pivotally mounted. A second circular shoulder 85 is provided integrally with the axle 69 adjacent the outer end of the lug 82. The axle 69, folded on its hinge 77, is carried within the container at time of delivery and is removed therefrom when the container is opened, whereupon it is installed in the brackets 70 by passing the sections 78 between the lower ends of the fingers 71 and into the fragmentary cylinders provided by the fingers. This installation is accomplished by turning the axle into a position such that the flats 79 and 80 of sections 78 parallel the inner faces of the lower ends of the fingers 71, said inner faces of each .bracket 70 being spaced apart a distance very slightly clear the lower sections of the fingers 71 and to reach the cylinders provided thereby, it is turned about its own axis through a are, thus bringing the flats 79 and 80 into horizontal positions as is seen clearly in Fig. 6 where upon said axle is prevented from traveling out of said brackets through the space between the lower portions of the fingers through which it entered. In order to prevent rotation of the axle into disengaging position after it has been placed in the position shown in Fig. 6, an extension 87 is provided on at least one of the shoulders 81, which extension has an opening 88 through which a pin 89 is passed into a registering opening or chamber 90 in bracket 70. After the axle has thus been installed in the brackets 70, the Wheel assemblies 67 are applied to opposed extended ends 91 of the axle. Hubs 86 of the wheel assemblies 67 are provided at their inner ends with shoulders 93 which respectively abut the shoulders 85 of the'axle assemblies. To enable retaining the wheel assemblies in position on the axle the keepers 83, which are provided on their lower surfaces with cutouts 92 of generally concave configurations, are dropped from over the shoulders 85 and 93 so that the top portions of said shoulders are always received within the cutouts 92. In order for the keeper to fit uniformly about the upper portion of the hub and in order to further increase the keeperseffectiveness, a lower edge 94 of its most exare provided adjacent the corrugations 64 on the transoms 57 to afford space for lodging the longitudinal edges of the lower component.

pose of maintaining the keeper in lowered position, that a ranges is, in the position in which the top portions of shoulders 35 and 93 are received in the concave portion 92, openings are provided in the fork 84 of the keeper 83 in registration with an opening in the lug 82, through all of which a detent pin 15 is passed. The fit of the keeper '83 about the shoulder 93 being sufiiciently loose to avoid substantial frictional drag, it is apparent that the wheel assembly 67 is thus free to rotate upon the axle end 91 but is prevented from becoming disengaged therefrom.

For the purpose of pulling and guiding our container after it has been delivered and the wheels mounted thereon, we provide a tongue assembly which includes a base member 95 and an extension member 96 which are disengageably connected at their inner proximate ends by a coupling structure 97. Prior to delivery, this handle assembly is disassembled and carried within the container. The lower end 98 of the base member 95 is preferably disposed at an angle to the remainder of base element 95 and is received in a bracket 99 which is attached to :the inside of the container adjacent an end 45 thereof by means of bolts 100. A detent pin 101 is provided for retaining the tongue in the bracket 99 and an opening may be pinned in place therein by a detent 106. A circular opening 107 (Fig. 1) is provided in the sleeve 104 in axial alignment with the section 96. By this expedient it is possible to store the cross handle 105 within the section 96 prior to delivery and to locate it therein by means of detent pin 106 and a cooperating rivet 108.

The coupling 97 is best illustrated in Fig. 8 and comprises a sleeve 109 received about the upper end of the base element 95, at which point it is held in position by rivets 110 and 111. In the upper end of the sleeve 109 is a sleeve segment 112 preferably of inner and outer diameters the same as those of the base element 95 and secured in place in the sleeve 109 by an annular weld 113 at the outer ends of the two sleeves. A pair of bayonet slots 114 is provided in opposed wall portions of sleeve 112, said slots extending to the upper end of said sleeve. A smaller diameter tube section 115 is installed at the lower end of the extension section 96 and is secured thereto by means of rivets 116 and 117. The lower end of the tube section 115 projects a substantial distance beyond the lower end of the member 96 and is received in sleeve segment 112; in fact, it may extend beyond the lower end of said sleeve segment 112 into the upper end of base member 95. A pin 118, having each of its ends projecting somewhat beyond the periphery of the tube 115, is provided in said tube and, when the members 95 and 96 are in coupled position, the extended ends of the pin 118 are received in the hooked portions of the bayonet slots 114 to prevent the member 96 from being longitudinally withdrawn from the member 95. In order to lock the member 96 in such position of rotation that the pin extensions are lodged in the hooked portions of the slots 114, an aperture or passage 119 is provided, extends through the sleeves 109 and 112 and through the tube 115, and is adapted to receive a detent pin 120. Detachable pull ropes 30 and 31 may be provided to facilitate moving the wheeled unit.

Fig. 2 shows the complete container mounted upon its wheels. Although the usual procedure, after delivery has been made, is for the top half 41 of the container to be discarded after it has been disengaged from the lower half 4.2 and the load removed therefrom, the view serves to illustrate the manner in which the components 41 and 42 are retained in their desired relative positions while in flight and during their descent from the aircraft. Fastener straps or hands 121 and fastener strap or band "by a detent pin assemblies 122 encircle the container and are secured in such position by lock means, as will be more fully .d1s closed hereinafter. The straps 121, in addition to serving the purpose just mentioned, also mount parachute riser loops 124 (Fig. 2) which serve to attach the container to a parachute while in descent. The strap assemblies 122, in addition to assisting in holding the container in closed condition, mount hanger elements 125 which, while the container is being carried on aircraft, support said container by engaging a suitable releasable carriage assembly which may be a bomb shackle of well known type.

A pronounced advantage in the feature of our container opening along its length into two generally similar components is the ready access to the load. For example,

parts may be unloaded from each half so that it is .not

necessary to reach entirely through the container to obtain parts lodged in the bottom of the bottom half thereof. The preferred practice in loading our containers is to so assemble and brace the load that the adjacent edges of the transoms 57 in the top and bottom components of the container approach each other but do not contact, the straps 121 and 122 serving to press the container components tightly about the load to provide a snug but resilient fit. However, since it is not desirable that the container components be permitted to be telescoped together to a substantial extent as a result, .for example, of a very forceful impact upon hitting the ground and since the load should not be compressed beyond a certain point, flanges 126 are provided integrally on adjacent edges of the transoms to serve as cooperating abutments to prevent telescoping of the components and undue compression of the load beyond a predetermined point. In other words, while the registering flanges 126 are not in engagement with one another when the container is in unstrained condition, being then held apart by the load, they do engage one another upon the container being subjected to a sudden transversely directed impact upon landing.

It will be noted from viewing Fig. 2 that the container there shown, when in fiight and while in descent, is carried in an upside down condition. In order to distribute the landing shock over a number of corrugations in instances where the container in alighting upon the ground hits upon its corrugated side wall structure, outer arcuate plates 127 are provided. span three or four corrugations on that portion of the container upon which it is likely to alight, normally a portion substantially opposite to that adjacent which the parachute riser loops are disposed, and are held in place by bolts 128 which extend through the corrugated Wall section of the container, and, preferably, also through a reinforcing plate 129 on the inside of the container, where they are secured in place by nuts 130.

In the wheeled container illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, end walls 131 open along a line spaced upwardly from their centers and said ends are provided with scallops or corrugations 132 comparable to the corrugations of the side wall corrugated material 44. Also, the scalloped peripheral edges of said ends have flanges 33 provided with corrugations 34 which directly engage the end portions of said corrugated side wall and are connected thereto by fasteners such as bolts or rivets 35. The axle assembly of Figs. 9 and 10 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 8 and includes a plate 133 rigidly secured to and lying across a bottom are of the container and having corrugations 134 fitting the corrugations of the container. A relatively long and deep transverse rib 135 is provided on the plate .133 and is reinforced by brace ribs 136. At spaced apart junctures, hinge knuckles 137 are provided on the rib 135, said hinge knuckles receiving pintles 138 on which axle brackets 139 having legs 140 and 141 are mounted. A stub axle 142 is longitudinally slidably received in each connecting section 143 of each bracket 139 and is held in the desired position of extension therefrom 144. Comparison of Figs. 9 and .10 the stub axles .142 are disposed in ended positions when in inoperative demonstrates that somewhat less ext These plates 127 preferably sections 156 and 157 therebetween.

position than when in operative position. In applying a wheel assembly 145 to an axle 142, the latter is withdrawn to a point such that its normally extended end does not protrude at all beyond the bracket connecting section 143, whereupon the wheel assembly 145 is brought into a position such that its hub is in registration with the end of said axle 142 and such that an annular flange 146 on said wheel is partially received in the groove or undercut of a retainer 147, after which the axle is passed through the hub of the wheel assembly 145 into fully extended position and looked there by the detent 144. The wheel assembly 145 is thus not only installed on the axle but it is locked in such position by the retainer 147. In order to secure the brackets 139 in depending or operative position, detent members 148 are provided which extend through registering openings in the brace ribs 136 and the respectively adjacent bracket legs 141. When the wheel assemblies 145 are removed from the axles 142 and it is desired that the brackets 139 be disposed and retained in inoperative positions adjacent to the body of the container, such positioning is accomplished by rotating the axle brackets 139 on their pintles 138 through approximately arcs. The detent pins 148 are then moved to the positions shown in Fig. 10 where they engage other openings in bracing ribs 136 together with registering openings in the bracket legs 141.

The assembly of Figs. 9 and 10 also presents tongue structure of a type substantially difierent from that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 8. A tongue bar 149, like the axle brackets of this assembly, is carried on the outside of the container at all times, and it is longitudinally slidably received in a suitable bore in the rib and also in a housing section 150, the latter being mounted in a bracket 151 on the bottom of the front of the container. A handle 152 is provided on the extended end of the tongue bar 149 and is adapted to be held in place by a catch element 153 when the tongue is in the inoperative position shown in the drawing. Operative position of the tongue is obtained by drawing the tongue bar 149 longitudinally outwardly through the bore in bracket 135 and through the housing until the inner end portion thereof is received within the housing, in which position 7 it may be locked by a detent 154.

The assembly of Figs. 11, 12. and 13 has a difierent end construction best shown in Fig. 13. An annular binder 160 is generally U-shaped in transverse section to form flanges which receive the ends of the corrugated wall The end member 155 has a flange 159 fitting within the binder 160. Bolts 162 extend through flange 159, the inner flange of binder 160 and the inner crests of walls 44, and bolts 161 extend through the outer crests of walls 44 and the outer flange of binder 160. A portion of flange 159 of the top or cover component 156 is cut away, as indicated at 164, Fig. 13, for the accommodation of a reinforcing channel 165 which is bolted to the wall and the inner flange of binder 160, by bolts 166. As will appear from Fig. 12, the channel member 165 is of lesser circumferential extent than the flange 159 of component 156 so that the remaining or end portions of the flange provide an abutment for the cover when closed. Fig. 12 shows that end closures 155 are divided along horizontal chords thereof in correspondence with the lines of separation of the wall portions 156 and 157. One of these lines is determined by the common axis of hinges 158. The plane of separation or division thus defined is a little above the central longitudinal axis of the complete container. Fig. 12 shows that end closures 167 are provided at the junctions of the cover and main sections of binder 161); these closures 167 abut when the sections are in closed relation and serve further to locate the closure position of the cover. Both ends of the container are constructed as just described.

In the claims, the terms semi-cylindrical as applied to the respective wall sections, and semi-circular, as

applied to the end sections, are to be interpreted broadly enough to cover constructions such as that shown in the species of Figs. 11, 12 and 13, where the two components are not exactly 180 in angular extent.

The axle assembly of Figs. 11, 12 and 13 is generally similar to that of Figs. 9 and 10. A hinge knuckle or bracket 168 is mounted upon a relieved area on a plate 169 secured to the bottom of the container. Detent pins 170 serve to retain axle brackets 171 in either the operative position shown in Figs. 11 and 12 or, by removal to openings 172 (Fig. 15), in the inactive or containeradjacent position.

The containers of our invention may be shipped in disassembled condition, thus greatly reducing the cargo space required, and assembled at the point at which they are to be packed and loaded onto aircraft. The assembling of, for example, one component of our container may best be effected by pursuit of the following procedure: 'Ihe corrugated side wall sheet is first secured to one or more of the transoms with a minimum number of bolts and nuts. The end assemblies are then applied to the corrugated wall section by introducing the ends of the latter between the flanges of the inner and outer sections of the respective end assemblies. Next, bolts and nuts are applied to secure said ends in position and more bolts and nuts may be applied to securely fasten the transoms in place. If other transoms or a bulkhead is required they are then installed.

In addition to the several advantages of our invention from the operative standpoint, our aerial delivery containers may be made substantially wholly by dies, with the result that they may be rapidly produced and require fewer operations in fabrication.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An aerial delivery container comprising, a side wall generally semi-cylindrical in form and of longitudinally corrugated sheet metal, an end closure for said container comprising a generally semi-circular fiat member having integral parallel axially-extending, inner and outer flanges extending about its arcuate periphery, said flanges being radially spaced a distance equal to the radial limiting dimensions of the corrugations of said corrugated side wall, means securing said inner flange -in tangential fixed relation with each radially inwardmost portion of successive corrugations of said side wall, and means securing said outer flange in tangential fixed relation with each radially outwardmost portion of successive corrugations of said side wall.

2. In an aerial delivery container, a sheet metal side wall generally semi-cylindrical in form and having longitudinal corrugations continuous throughout its longitudinal dimension, a pair of semi-circular end members, each said end member having parallel inner and outer fixed flanges extending about its arcuate periphery, said flanges having a radial spacing equal to the maximum radial dimension between inner and outer crests of the corrugations of said wall, each end of said side wall projecting with a close fit between the flanges of a respective end member, means securing the outer crests only of the corrugations of said side wall to said outer flanges, and means securing the inward crests only of the corrugations of said side wall to said inner flanges, whereby a rigid integral container is formed.

3. In a generally cylindrical aerial drop delivery container, first and second substantially semi-cylindricalseparable complemental halves, each said half comprising a semi-cylindrical wall of longitudinally-corrugated outer flange, in tangential relation therewith, means securing the inner crests of the corrugations of said wall to said inner flange in tangential relation therewith, and first and second generally semi-circular partitions secured in coplanar relationship within, the respective halves, each said partition including a peripheral flange, and means securing the inner crests of corrugation of the side walls to the flange of a respective partition in tangential relation therewith, said partitions collectively dividing said container into first and second longitudinally-spaced compartments when said halves, are in closed relation.

4. A generally cylindrical aerial drop delivery container comprising first and second complementary sections divided in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical container, each said section comprising a generally semi-cylindrical side wall of sheet metal corrugated longitudinally and first and second end members, each said end member comprising a generally semi-circular plate having integral parallel inner and outer flanges extending about its arcuate periphery, said flanges being radially spaced to receive with a smooth fit therebetween a respective end of one of said side walls, means securing the contacting crest portions of said corrugated side wall to at least one of said flanges, means pivotally connecting said container sections along longitudinal contiguous edges, an arcuate wall plate secured externally to the side wall of one said container section and between the ends thereof, first and second knuckles fixedly carried by said wall plate, a pair of axle brackets, a stub shaft fixed in each bracket, a supporting wheel journaled on each stub shaft for rotation on respective first and second axes, means mounting each said bracket in a respective one of said knuckles for pivotal movement about axes laterally oflset from and angularly related to the axis of the corresponding stub shaft from first positions wherein said first and second axes are angularly related in positions folded against said wall plate, to second positions wherein said first and second axes are in alignment and transverse to the longitudinal axis of and offset from the walls of said container, and means selectively locking each said bracket in its said first and second positions.

5. An aerial delivery container comprising a plurality of generally semi-cylindrical container components each said component comprising a side wall of corrugated sheet material and a pair of separable semi-circular end structures, each said end structure comprising an inner plate having a generally arcuate edge and an outer plate overlying said inner plate and attached thereto but spaced therefrom at the contiguous diametral edges of said plates, said outer plate having an arcuate edge projected radially outwardly from the arcuate edge of said inner plate, similarly-directed outer and inner flanges on the arcuate peripheries of said inner and outer plates, respectively, said flanges being disposed, one on the inside and one on the outside of the corresponding end edge of said side wall structure, means attaching troughs of said corrugated material to said inner flange, means attaching crests of said corrugated material to said outer flange, a flat flange element fixed between each of said inner and outer members in one of said separable sections only and projecting beyond the diametral edges thereof to be received between the spaced diametral edges of the respective end plates of the other said component when said components are in closed relation, and first and second semi-circular partitions fixed transverseiy in said components respectively so that when said components are in closed relation diametral edge portions or said partitions are in contact, there being a protruding corrugation on at least one of said partitions and fitting within a corrugation of said wall structure.

6. An aerial delivery container comprising a plurality of separable container components each of which includes side wall structure of corrugated material, a p

pair of opposite separable end structures each having an inner end member provided with a generally arcuate edge, an outer end member overlying said inner end member and attached thereto but spaced therefrom inparts, having, an arcuate edge projected outwardly from the arcuate edge of said inner end member, similarly directed flanges on the arcuate edges of said inner and outer end members disposed one on the inside and one on he outside of an end portion of said side wall structure, means for attaching crests of said corrugated material to that flange disposed to the outside of said side wall structure, means for attaching troughs of said corrugated. material to that flange disposed to the inside of said side wall structure, the construction being such that the assembly is separable along a line including spaced apart portions of said inner and outer end members, a splicing element fixed between said inner and outer end members in one of the separable sections of said end structure and projecting beyond said section to be received between the spaced apart portions of adjacent inner and outer end members, a transom in each of said container components so disposed that when said col ponents are in engagement with one another to provide a closure, adjacent edges of said transoms are in registry, whereby the extent to which said container components may be compressed together is limited, and a corrugation on at least one of said transoms received in a corrugation of the corrugated material comprising said side wall structure.

7. In an aerial delivery container, a sheet metal side wall generally semi-cylindrical in form and having longitudinal corrugations, a pair of semi-circular end members, each said end member having parallel inner and outer flanges integral therewith extending about its arcuate periphery, said flanges having a radial spacing equal to the limiting dimension measured radially, between inner and outer crests of the corrugations of said wall, the inner one of said flanges having an edge lying in a transverse plane axially offset toward the other end member from the plane of the corresponding outer one of said flanges, each end of said side wall fitting between the flanges of a respective end member, means rigidly uniting the outer crests of the corrugations of said side wall to said outer flanges in first transverse planes, and means rigidly uniting the inner crests of the corrugations of said side Wall to said inner flanges in second transverse planes, said second planes lying between said first planes.

8. In an aerial delivery container, a sheet metal side wall generally semi-cylindrical in form and having longitudinal corrugations, a pair of semi-circular end mem bers, each said end member having parallel inner and outer flanges integral therewith extending about its arcuate periphery, said flanges having a radial spacing equal to the limiting dimension, measured radially, between inner and outer crests of the corrugations of said wall, the inner one of said flanges having an edge lying in a transverse plane axially offset toward the other end member from the plane of the corresponding outer one of said flanges, each end of said side wall fitting between the flanges of a respective end member, bolts rigidly uniting the outer crests of the corrugations of said side wall to said outer flanges in first transverse planes, and bolts rigidly uniting the inner crests of corrugations of said side wall to said inner flanges in second transverse planes, said second planes lying between said first planes.

9. In an aerial delivery container, a curved sheet metal side wall having longitudinal corrugations, a sheet metal end member having parallel radially-spaced arcuate flanges about its periphery defining a channel therebetween, the innermost one of said flanges projecting be yond the outermost one, said side wall having a snug fit within said channel with said corrugations normal thereto, a first series of bolts securing the outer crests of the corrugations of said side wall to said outer flange, and

'11 a second series of bolts securing the inner crests of the corrugations of said side wall to said inner flange, said second series of bolts being free and clear of said outer flange longitudinally of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 424,603 Favor Apr. 1, 1890 723,174 Mauser Mar. 17, 1903 792,029 Harker June 13, 1905 19 926,941 Harding Jul 6, 1909 986,467 Killion Mar. 14, 1911 1,011,445 Killion Dec. 12, 1911 Willis Ian. 21, Poland June 22, Baum Nov. 17, Light Sept. 12, Brown Sept; 19, Pratt Apr. 10, Rutkowski Apr. 18, Larson Jan. 2, Quilter Apr. 3, Volt July 23, Morehouse Feb. 4, Samuelson June 27, 

